Congratulations Morning Congress Champions: Smith/Whoisit, Eurez/Best Kept Secrete, Koch/I Am Relentless, Robinson/PF Premo, Fleming/Supermann

By: Brittany Bevis

First up this morning, Maegan Fleming rode her 3-year-old gelding named Supermann to win the limited division of the 3-Year-Old Non Pro Western Pleasure. This is Maegan’s first trip to the Congress, and “Clark Kent” is her first Quarter Horse.

“We bought him last year and started doing the futurities in January,” Maegan says. “He’s my first Quarter Horse, so this is a dream right here to win at the Congress. I also have an Appaloosa all-around horse, but I took a break from showing him this year to focus on AQHA competition. We’ve hit nearly every futurity, which can be hard sometimes because I’m a college student at TWU in Denton, TX.”

“We’ve had such a great year. Tim [Zuidema] won at the NSBA World, and I was third and reserve in one of my classes, but to be the winner at the Congress is just amazing.”

Later on this week, Maegan will show Clark Kent in the Open Non-Pro division of the 3-Year-Old Non Pro Western Pleasure. Also, Tim Zuidema will show in the Open class.

“He’s so good-minded,” she says. “We prepare him, but we don’t have to do a lot, because he’s naturally gifted. I’ve never really met a horse before that’s bothered by nothing. Also, his movement is really flowy. He sticks his front leg out there, and he has such a big hock. To have both of those features work together is rare to find in a horse.”

The Reserve Champion in the class was was Abi Tuiasosopo with Lexus Made Lady. Third was Becky Galyean with Extreme Moonlite. Fourth was Kari Craft with James Deen Daydream. Fifth was Sydnie Ochs with Only Invite The Best.

In Amateur Weanling Stallions, Debbie Smith showed her daughter’s horse, Whoisit, to win her first Congress Championship title. Debbie hadn’t shown in six years, but when her daughter, Tammi Michelle-Smith, called and said she had a special horse for Mom to lead at the Congress, she knew it would be worth it.

“When I turned 50, they decided I should show at the Select World, and that was my first time to show in Halter,” Debbie says. “Tammi showed all-around Paint Horses as a youth, and we had mostly riding horses.”

Although Debbie and Whoisit were both feeling some nerves before they entered the pen this morning, the pair was able to pull it together for an impressive finish. “He was scared because a horse backed into him before we went in the class, but he was trying to keep it together. He was really good for me. I’m a nervous wreck when I show, but they tell me I do ok once I go in. Dewey says I save it all for the show pen. But, I knew Tammi had won the Open class, so the pressure was on!

Debbie Smith and Whoisit were also the Limited Champions and Elite Halter Futurity Champions. The Reserve Champion was Helen Groff with JCG Addictive. Third place was Cheryl McGrath with Dejaclu. Fourth was Richard Peden with Very Cool Indeed. Fifth was Terri Heffelfinger with Just A Bit Outside.

In Amateur Yearling Stallions, Robert Eurez led Best Kept Secrete to a big win, considering the health challenges they’ve both struggled with this year. Robert was diagnosed with cancer in February, and his colt contracted a near-deadly virus upon his return from a fantastic showing at the Breeders’ Halter Futurity.

“He won everything at the Iowa Breeders’ Halter Futurity,” Robert says. “Also, he was Grand Champion as a weanling over the senior horses. They just loved him there. I’m actually wearing that buckle today.”

“Then, he got very sick after catching a virus. I was diagnosed with cancer back in February, but I’m in remission now. We’re battling through that together.”

This colt first caught Robert’s eye when he was just a youngster. “I bought him from Steve Headley. He owns the mare and then they purchased the stallion. Of course, when you buy a baby, you don’t know what you’re going to get. I gambled on him, and it paid off.”

“I lease out my barn and he was stalled there, so I went over every other day to look at him. There was just something about him. He always came to the stall door when I came to look at him, and we kind of built a bond.”

Both Robert and his promising, young colt will “most definitely” be headed to the AQHA World Show next month.

The Reserve Champion was James Henrekin with Obviously Preplanned. Third was Theodore Lincoln with FG Unforgettable. Fourth was Terry Tippin with TF Bulletproof. Fifth was Mariah Gibson with BPF Fear The Dark.

In Amateur 2-Year-Old Stallions, Lea Ann Koch led her homebred colt, I Am Relentless, to a big win. “He’s by Sirprizerized and out of a mare I also raised, Best To Be Me,” Lea Ann says. “When I sold the mare to Vern Habighorst, I retained an embryo, and he was the embryo. I’ve raised him and I also had his mother and his grandmother. He’s going to the World Show; his mother was a World Champion; and his grandmother was a Reserve World Champion, so it’s a family legacy!”

A few of the qualities Lea Ann finds most attractive in her colt are his beautiful color and smooth musculature. “He’s got the muscle, but he’s also good legged. He’s the same horse at six in the morning as he is at six at night. Also, he’s N/N. After he showed in the Open, we’ve had a lot of people wanting to know if I’m going to stand him, and I probably will.”

“[As far as their personalities are concerned], his grandmother drove the short bus, his mother rode it, and he just tags along!” Lea Ann jokes. “They’re just really laid-back horses. Luke is super quiet.”

Luke is expertly fit by Tom Robertson and will be shown by Ross Roark and Le Ann at the upcoming AQHA World Show, where Lea Ann is hoping to claim another big title. “I have this space at home in my office where I have a picture of his grandmother coming out of the arena, and I’m patting her. I have her buckle underneath. Then, I have a picture of his mother and I coming out of the arena with our trophy, and I’m patting her on the neck. I’m hoping I get one of those pat shots coming out of the World Show while carrying a trophy with him!”

The Reserve Champion in the class was Robin Robinett with BPF Classy Kid. Third was Becky Durrett with El Pistolaro. Fourth was Brenda Shipley with Dynamik.

In Amateur 3-Year-Old Stallions, Beth Dunlap was named the Congress Champion with Hy Fa Lootin. The Reserve Chamion was Pamela Bucklew-Wilder. JL Robinson led PF Premo to a win in Amateur Aged Stallions. The Reserve Champion was Jeanne Casscagnette with TF Cool Cruiser. Third was DeAnna Gordon with Tesignatee. Fourth was Victoria Doyle with Advanced Conclusion.

Amateur Performance Halter Stallions was won by Angie Watts Schmeck with Inspirado. The Reserve Champion and Limited Champion was Jamie Oakley with Certainly A Vision. Third was Kim Vanderwende with Acoolest Cowboy. Fourth was Marcie Budine with What Matters Most. Fifth was Rene Baldwin with Time To Giddy Up.

Finally, to close out Halter classes today, JL Robinson led PF Premo to a unanimous win in Amateur Grand and Reserve Stallions. The Reserve Champion Stallion was Best Kept Secrete, led by Robert Eurez. Although JL was a bit nervous heading into his class today, he knew his reliable stallion, PF Premo, would help him through. JL was a bit emotional exiting the pen following his big win as he gave his wife the bouquet of flowers along with a big hug. We asked him if he was excited, and he said a better word would be relieved!